plate no. 4973

Portrait of Nathaniel Lee

mezzotintBaroqueportraitportraitfiguremanoval frameclothinghair

some experience helpful

Recreating this portrait will help students understand chiaroscuro and how to model form using subtle gradations of light and shadow. It also offers practice in rendering textures like hair and fabric with a limited palette.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Lightly sketch the oval frame and the basic proportions of the figure.
step 02
Establish the darkest areas of the background and the darkest shadows on the figure.
step 03
Begin to build up the mid-tones, focusing on the planes of the face and the folds of the clothing.
step 04
Carefully blend the transitions between light and shadow to create a smooth, tonal effect.
step 05
Add highlights to the face, hair, and clothing to create a sense of depth and volume.
step 06
Refine the details of the facial features, paying attention to the subtle nuances of expression.
step 07
Work on the texture of the hair, using short, broken strokes to suggest individual strands.
step 08
Make final adjustments to the values and details to achieve a balanced and harmonious composition.

color palette

primary · raw umber · ivory black · titanium white

secondary · yellow ochre

Mix raw umber and ivory black to create a range of neutral grays. Add small amounts of titanium white to lighten the values. Use yellow ochre sparingly to warm up certain areas.

techniques